Idled Minn. public employees holding on -- for nowMany of the 22,000 public employees out of work in Minnesota's budget impasse say they will manage to get through the extended layoff. But others
are looking for new jobs, creating the potential for a brain drain.July 10, 2011

Little urgency to end Minn. government shutdownInstead of sending Minnesota's elected
leaders into a frenzy of activity, the nation's only state
government shutdown has deepened the political paralysis that led
them to their budget standoff. Top Democrats and Republicans have
given no sign when they will talk again about how to resolve the
stalemate.July 9, 2011

National debate over budget is as intense as in MinnesotaMinnesota native and nationally-renowned congressional analyst Norm Ornstein compares the sharp divide in Washington to the sharp divide in Minnesota. Will Democrats and Republicans find common ground either place? What prevents this from being accomplished more smoothly?Midday, July 8, 2011

Food inspectors will be shorthanded at fairsWith fewer than 20 percent of its inspectors on duty because of the shutdown, the Minnesota Department of Health say it won't have enough staff to thoroughly inspect the food served at festivals in the state.July 8, 2011

If it lasts, shutdown could make historyState government has been shut down now for a full week, and a budget agreement between Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP legislative leaders is nowhere in sight.July 8, 2011

Parallels between budget impasse in Minn., Washington DCSt. Paul and Washington DC are more than 1,000 miles apart. But the budget debates going on in both cities right now are very similar. Republicans want to balance the books without raising taxes, while Democrats call for a combination of spending cuts and tax increases.July 7, 2011

Minn.'s bond rating downgradedThe budget impasse at the Capitol has resulted in a lower bond rating for Minnesota. Fitch Rating has downgraded the state's bond rating from the highest rating of AAA to AA+.July 7, 2011

No budget talks; commission weighs in with recommendationsThere were no negotiations Thursday between Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders aimed at ending the state government shutdown, but an independent commission weighed in with its proposed framework for a budget deal.July 7, 2011